shelly13

Congrats!! That is a HUGE accomplishment. I am only about 11 weeks out so I have NO frame of reference to help you, but just wanted to encourage you. Try following up with your nutritionist. There is another 'forum' on this site for people who are years out, maybe try seeing if there is some info on there or if someone with more experience can weigh in! Good luck!!!

I've tried a few Lean Cuisines, but it is too much food for me. It tastes alright, and is convenient. I get the ones that are just meat and veggies. There is a Ranchero Beef with Chipotle Sweet Potatoes that is pretty good and goes down easy. Good luck!

This must be so frustrating for you! I am so sorry that you are having such a rough time. My first thought is to find out if you are taking Prilosec or another proton-pump inhibitor? If not that would be the first thing I would try. The second thing is adding an anti-gas med like Phazyme or Gas-X. If I were in your shoes, I would back my diet up to post-op day one and start advancing as tolerated and very, very slowly. Make sure you are sipping, not gulping and chewing extra thoroughly! I like the other suggestion about seeing if you have a stricture or other GI obstruction. If you are this miserable and your doc isn't looking for the answer, maybe get a second opinion? Try not to compare yourself to others, each body heals differently and at a different speeds! I really hope you get to feeling better, make sure to keep us informed!.

My doc had me hold fresh fruit and veggies until about 6 weeks, I wouldn't but that is just my opinion. Your doc or RD would know better, maybe give them a call?

Looks like normal healing to me! Abnormal would be red, warm/hot to the touch, discharge, pus or a foul odor.

I agree with what everyone else has said, and posted almost the exact same question! Someone described the full liquids as sliders, that go right through the sleeve. So true! Once you start chewing food, you'll feel the restriction. i promise! Hang in there, get your fluids and protein in and you'll do just fine! Good luck!

The protein shakes get old pretty quick. I hit that point where I was gagging on them. Special K makes a protein water mix like Crystal Light, I sipped on that and put the protein powder in/on anything I put in my mouth. If you can eat soft foods, try some cottage cheese or scrambled eggs. Get creative to get through this. After a few days off the shakes I added them back. I try to force one down over the course of a day. Just make sure you are getting your protein somehow or the fatigue will make the nausea seem like a walk in the park. GNC has a flavorless, clear protein that you can put in anything. I also used powdered skim milk in anything dairy based to boost the protein. Good luck and I hope you feel better.

Kcarr, you very well may be full with one shrimp-at least at the beginning. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to order your own mean, maybe hubby will just share with you! I am about 8 weeks out, and I don't/can't eat a whole lot at one sitting. For breakfast today, I made a one egg omelette with one slice of cheese and finished about 2/3 of it. At dinner I usually have two or three ounces of grilled chicken or fish and few bites of steamed veggies and that's all. However, the 'slider' foods, like yogurt or soup I can eat six ounces or so. I eat very small amounts every couple of hours. It's hard to call anything a meal, it's more like grazing all day. You'll just have to see what works for you and what doesn't, it's different for everyone. I will say that I LOVE my sleeve and haven't regretted my decision at all. Good luck to you!

I was a hot mess the night before surgery too! The good news is the people who are on your care team chose this as their profession and they know their jobs inside and out and if there are any complications, you're already in the right place! Long term complications with the sleeve are minimal and manageable. However, this is a HUGE step and the lifestyle adjustment is a big one. The first few days are rough, but they pass quickly and before you know it, you'll be stepping on the scale and realizing you just lost 8 or 10 pounds-in a week. Nothing tastes better than success! You are doing a wonderful thing for yourself. And we are all here for you, just a click or two away! Good luck!

I also chose the sleeve because I didn't like the idea of having a foreign object left in me that can be adjusted or removed. I also know several people who either didn't lose weight or lose nearly enough for it to be worth it. I worked with a girl who could still take down an entire Chipotle burrito with chips, guac and a 32 oz soda. What's the point? I didn't like the RNY because I didn't want my intestines messed with, and the absorption and dumping was more than I wanted to deal with. I also know a guy who is still over 400 pounds 10 years post RNY. Sooo I went with the sleeve and could not be happier with my choice. I feel very satisfied with a small amount of food and have ZERO cravings. I had only a few complications and they were worth it. Pain was minimal, recovery was fairly easy except for the lack of energy which was my own fault as I cut down on my protein shakes too early. Best of luck to you!

You are on the right path! I was sleeved April 10th and I am SO happy I did it! There is a lot of great, real-life experience on this site but remember that every one will respond differently to surgery and the lifestyle changes required to be successful. Good luck!

I was sleeved April 10th and I LOVE it. I would do it again in a heartbeat and highly recommend it to those considering WLS. I agree with the comments about not being prepared and just expect a magic bullet. It is definitely a lifestyle change but one I was completely happy to make. I had a few complications, nothing major (a car accident less than a week post-op didn't help things!) but this is one of the best decisions I have made.

I was told no caffeine, period. The reason is that with such a limited capacity it is hard to stay hydrated. Since caffeine is a diuretic, it will further dehydrate you and you will have to double the fluid intake to compensate. For example, if you drink an 8 oz cup of coffee, you would then have to drink an additional 16 ounces of water to balance the diuretic effect. I had to give up coffee and diet coke pre-surgery and it sucked!!! Maybe when I get further out and eating/drinking is more normal I'll try them again, but not yet. Stayed hydrated has been a challenge and I don't want to complicate it further! Good luck!

One of the things I was told by my surgeon and dietician was that post-sleeve I would feel differently about food, that it wouldn't appeal to me so much. I walked out of that appointment going "Uh-huh. yeah, that's not going to happen. I LOVE food too much" Well...it happened! I really don't have an appetite anymore, I eat only when I feel actual, physiologic hunger. It's amazing, I feel completely full and satisfied with a very small amount of food. My family and I can't believe the transition. I think you would do well to go with the sleeve. There is absolutely no question as to when you're full. It's obvious. Good luck!

Please take at least a daily multivitamin or even better a prenatal vitamin. Also a B12 sublingual supplement of at least 500 mcg. You need at least 60 grams of protien a day. These are some of the general guidelines... I am not a doctor or anything! Oh and water, water, water!

Definitely do the Prilosec or the generic omeprazole. Lifesaver!

I had the same problem with super low energy. I was sleeved April 10. I had to (gulp) continue with the protien shakes and use whatever food I could tolerate as a bonus. After a day or so back on the protien I felt MUCH better! Good luck!

YAY!!!!!!!!!! Well done!

WOOT-WOOT!!!!!!!!!

Mmmm...Starbucks. I just told my husband I am going there today and am not leaving till I find a coffee drink I can have!

Give it at least a few days! I left the hospital 3 days after surgery and by the time I got home the nausea was gone completely. Pain on the other hand...that was a couple of weeks. Especially first thing in the morning when I had gone all night without pain meds, Today I am one month out and have zero pain. Today and tomorrow will probably be your worst days! I hope you feel better soon!

I tried oatmeal too as one of the first soft foods and it did not go well for me either. I switched to cream of rice, I made it with skim milk and splenda and it was pretty good, went down MUCH easier than oatmeal and I didn't feel like garbage afterward. If food is getting stuck, you might not be chewing it enough...I know! Chewing oatmeal? The other problem could be taking bites that are too big. Eating anything is completely different than before surgery. I am one month out today, and I learn something new every day! Today has not been a great food day for me, so I am just taking it super easy, more (yucky) protein drinks, yogurt, soup blah blah...Good Luck!!! Hope you find that eating gets easier. OH! The other thing I had to do when things felt stuck was take little TINY sips of water, just to lube things up and get it down. I know we aren't supposed to drink and eat but when you can't swallow....

I understand your frustration, but the question remains...Are you working out? None of us got into this situation by exercising regularly and eating well, and we aren't going to get out of this situation by continuing the habits we had before surgery. I'm not trying to lecture at all, but surgery- either lap band or sleeve is not a magic bullet. You have to do your part as well, and that means getting off the couch and getting moving. Even walking around your neighborhood for a half hour after dinner will make a huge difference. Probably time to face the music and really consider your activity level here. It's not likely that two weight loss surgery "failures" are the problem here. Sometimes the truth hurts...

My two cents...you didn't do anything wrong, you did something that needed to get done for your health. There's no need to lie and no need to say any more than you are comfortable talking about. Saying something as simple as "I took care of something that needed to get done" gives an answer that is a) honest and maintains your privacy. It also has an underlying tone of "I'm not discussing this" OR you could tell them you has WLS. You'll be surprised by how many people will support you, and we need ALL the support we can get. If someone has something negative to say, just politely dismiss them and their comment. Good luck!

I don't think you're doing anything 'wrong'. Just think about the physiological changes your body is going through. It is just as confused as you are. This is new territory and your body has to figure out how to navigate through it. Having said that, if you are drinking 15 protien shakes a day, you're probably taking in too many calories but at 9 days after surgery I imagine you are lucky if you can get two down and some water or milk in between. Try going for a walk, or try to get in some applesauce or cottage cheese. Remind your body that it is not starving to death! Last thing, have you been having bowel movements of any kind? You may just be 'full' if you get my meaning. Hope this helps! Give yourself some time to adjust and heal.